CARA sponsored a workshop on the Future of Antarctic
Astrophysics during the 192nd
meeting of the AAS in San Diego on
June 10, 1998.

The purpose of this all-day session was to educate the
astronomical community about the Antarctic
site and the unique potential of Antarctica for astrophysics and to
involve the community in the
planning of future observing facilities to be sited at the South
Pole.

The conditions at the South Pole offer unique opportunities for
astrophysical research. The extremely cold, dry, and highly stable
atmosphere is exceptional for observations from the millimeter
through the infrared. The nearly two-mile thick polar ice cap can
be used for high-energy astrophysical particle detector
telescopes, such as the Antarctic Muon and Neutrino Detector Array
AMANDA. Over the last
several years, the Center for Astronomical Research in Antarctica
(CARA) has carried out extensive site
testing, successfully operated an observatory through the
Austral winter, and conducted cutting edge astronomical
observations. It is now time to plan for the future beyond CARA
which, as an NSF-Science and Technology Center, ends in 2002.

The workshop began with a plenary session which covered the
history of astrophysics at the Pole and summarized the current
research being conducted by the CARA and AMANDA collaborations.
The speakers reviewed site
characterization and the
peculiarities of conducting research at the South Pole.

The day proceeded with parallel sessions of five
science working groups (see program for
details). The chairs of the working groups arranged speakers to
address the potential of the Antarctic for conducting unique
observations and experiments in their specific area of
astrophysics. The chairs then presented a summary of their working
group's findings at a plenary session. Talks on large instruments
already being planned for the South Pole were also presented
during this session. The session concluded with a panel discussion
on the scientific goals for the future of Antarctic
astrophysics.